This summer I was supposed to go on a mission trip to Costa Rica. Unfortunately the trip was canceled and we were unable to still head down there. I was going to be working with the Palmares Vineyard church and we would have actually gone on a mini mission trip to Nicaragua while down there… crazy to think that a nation we would normally go to for a mission trip is actually sending out its own mission trips! My uncle is deeply involved with the Palmares Vineyard and is good friends with the pastor there so there is still a connection with that church body. The reason I am writing this tonight is because of a great need in Central America so allow me to explain…
This information comes from my brother who returned from Costa Rica himself last month, my uncle, and icampi.org the Palmares Vineyard website. Costa Rica, not to be confused with Puerto Rico, is not connected with the U.S. government and does not have any special privileges. There are two main parts to a country like this: tourism and poverty. Americans usually only see the tourism point of view and think everything is fine and dandy there. However poverty does exist here just like any other country in the world. Costa Rica is also a very highly catholic nation which can be considered a non-issue except that the catholics will not allow any other form of worship. If any “protestant” form of worship arises they persecute the other Christians. They interrupt worship services by throwing rocks on the roof, they call police on the church and get them to close their doors or face jail time, and they have strict social policies on anyone not worshipping as a catholic.
Jesus said that no power of hell will stop His mission and the same is true here. Every time the catholic church shuts down the Palmares Vineyard more worshippers come. They are actually growing so fast that they need new land and a massively larger building. So many people are coming to learn what a true relationship with Christ is like… they are tasting and seeing that the Lord is incredibly good and that even though they are poor here on earth they have a greater treasure than anyone could imagine stored up in heaven. The Palmares Vineyard has been instrumental in bringing so many people to Christ through their genuine worship, outreaches, and services they offer on their small campus. The problem they are running into right now is that they need support. They have to raise $350,000 (US) by September 20th or they will not be allowed to purchase the land. With interest rates nearing 30% it is nearly impossible and financially irresponsible to take out a loan so they must raise all this money on their own. I ask anyone who is reading this to please check out icampi.org and offer assistance if you are able to.
Again, please check out www.icampi.org.
Recent Comments